Trash cans are essential in every household, especially in the kitchen where waste accumulates quickly. A clean trash can not only keeps your home fresh but also prevents unpleasant odors, bacteria buildup, and pests. Regular maintenance of your trash can is crucial to avoid grime and stubborn smells from taking over. Fortunately, cleaning your trash can is not a difficult or time-consuming task when you know the right steps. This guide will walk you through easy ways to keep your trash can spotless and smelling fresh.
Why Clean Your Trash Can Regularly?
Before diving into the step-by-step cleaning process, it’s important to understand why you should clean your trash can regularly. Even when you use 13 gallon trash bags or tall kitchen trash bags to line your bin, leaks or spills can occur, leaving behind food particles, liquids, or other waste materials. Over time, these materials decay, causing foul odors and creating the perfect environment for bacteria, mold, and even insects like fruit flies or gnats.
A routine cleaning schedule helps:
- Eliminate bad smells
- Reduce the risk of mold and bacteria
- Prevent pest infestations
- Extend the life of your trash can
Cleaning your trash can doesn’t have to be a hassle if you stay consistent with it. Whether it’s a small kitchen bin or a larger outdoor trash can, following these steps will keep them in top shape.
How Often Should You Clean Your Trash Can?
How often you should clean your trash can depends on how frequently it’s used. For a kitchen trash can lined with tall kitchen trash bags, a deep clean every two to four weeks is typically sufficient. However, if your trash can frequently smells bad or if any liquid waste spills, you should clean it immediately.
Outdoor trash cans, which hold larger quantities of waste, may require more frequent cleaning, especially during the hot summer months when odors can become more intense.
Materials You’ll Need
Before starting the cleaning process, gather the following materials:
- Dish soap or a degreasing cleaner
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- A long-handled scrub brush or sponge
- A hose or bucket of water
- Disinfectant spray or wipes
- A drying cloth or paper towels
- 13 gallon trash bags or larger, depending on your can size
Now, let’s move on to the cleaning process.
Step-by-Step Trash Can Cleaning Process
Step 1: Empty the Trash Can
First, ensure your trash can is completely empty. Remove the trash bag and dispose of it properly. If you’re using 13 gallon trash bags, now is a good time to check for any tears or leaks that may have caused waste to seep into the trash can.
Step 2: Rinse the Trash Can
Take your trash can outside or into a large sink (if it’s small enough) and rinse it thoroughly with water. If you’re cleaning an outdoor trash can, you can use a hose for this step. Rinsing will help loosen any stuck-on debris or liquids and give you a fresh surface to work with.
Step 3: Add Cleaning Solution
Next, create a simple yet effective cleaning solution by mixing warm water with dish soap or a degreasing cleaner. For extra deodorizing power, you can also add ½ cup of white vinegar. The vinegar will break down tough grime and neutralize odors, making your trash can smell fresh again.
Pour the cleaning solution inside the trash can, ensuring the bottom and sides are well-covered. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes to give the solution time to break down any residue.
Step 4: Scrub the Inside
After letting the solution sit, use a long-handled scrub brush or sponge to scrub the inside of the trash can. Pay close attention to the corners and the bottom, as these areas tend to collect the most grime. If you encounter any particularly stubborn stains or stuck-on residue, sprinkle baking soda directly on those areas for added scrubbing power.
Step 5: Rinse and Dry
Once you’ve scrubbed the entire trash can, rinse it out thoroughly with clean water. Make sure all soap and residue are removed. After rinsing, wipe the inside of the trash can with a clean towel or let it air dry in a sunny spot. The sunlight will not only speed up the drying process but also help kill off any remaining bacteria.
Step 6: Disinfect the Trash Can
After the trash can is completely dry, it’s time to disinfect. Use a disinfectant spray or wipes to clean both the inside and outside of the trash can. Pay extra attention to the lid and any handles, as these are high-touch areas. Disinfecting ensures that harmful germs and bacteria are eliminated, keeping your trash can sanitary.
Step 7: Add a Fresh Trash Bag
Once your trash can is dry and disinfected, place a new 13 gallon trash bag or tall kitchen trash bag inside. If your trash can is prone to leaks, you might want to double up on the bags or invest in trash bags with extra leak protection.
Optional: Deodorize with Baking Soda
For added freshness, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda at the bottom of your trash can before placing the bag inside. Baking soda helps absorb odors, keeping your trash can smelling pleasant between cleanings. You can also use store-bought odor absorbers or deodorizing trash can liners.
Pro Tips for Keeping Your Trash Can Clean
Maintaining a clean trash can doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. By following a few simple tips, you can prevent odors and messes from building up:
- Use Quality Trash Bags: Invest in high-quality tall kitchen trash bags that are strong and leak-proof. This will minimize spills and prevent liquid waste from seeping into the trash can.
- Double Bag for Messy Waste: When throwing away food scraps or other potentially messy items, double-bag them to prevent leaks.
- Clean Spills Immediately: If liquid spills or waste leaks into the trash can, clean it out as soon as possible to avoid odors and bacteria buildup.
- Deodorize Regularly: Sprinkle baking soda or use a trash can deodorizer to keep smells at bay between cleanings.
- Store Trash Can Properly: Ensure your trash can is stored in a cool, dry place, especially during warm months. Heat can intensify odors and speed up bacterial growth.
Conclusion
Cleaning your trash can is an easy yet essential household chore that prevents unpleasant smells, bacteria, and pests from making your home unsanitary. With just a little effort and a regular cleaning schedule, your trash cans—whether lined with 13 gallon trash bags or tall kitchen trash bags—will stay fresh and functional for years to come.
By following this guide and using the right cleaning techniques, you’ll ensure your trash cans are always clean, odor-free, and ready to handle whatever waste comes their way.